Random Odd Rules People In The Witness Protection Program Have To Follow (13 items)

(#3) Participants Have To Leave Pets And Personal Belongings

As the main aim of witness protection is to provide anonymity, marshals have strict rules about what families can take with them while relocating. Anything that could potentially identify them in any way is banned, including toys, letters, diaries, jewelry, and even family photographs.

In one instance, a child couldn't even take a drawing made by a classmate as a goodbye present because it bore his name. Government officials will also stop family pets from moving with their owners.
(#7) All Witnesses Have To Go Through Psychological Testing

Before entering the witness protection program, participants have to go through psychological testing and evaluation. This includes any family members who are also set to be protected. The psychological profiling aims to see if the witnesses pose any danger to the community that they are due to be relocated to, acting as a sort of safeguard against potential issues that might arise.
(#6) Participants Can Bring Their Mistresses

Generally, marshals will only relocate and give new identities to witnesses' spouses and children. However, in exceptional circumstances, the regulations allow for larger groups to be protected. In the past, this has included parents, siblings, cousins, and even mistresses.
(#4) Prisoners Need To Pass A Polygraph Test

Many people who go into witness protection have already been incarcerated for other crimes. They often have the most knowledge of organized crime syndicates and can provide the best evidence. In order for any prisoner to be accepted into the witness protection program, though, they have to pass a polygraph test.

This is to ensure that the witness will not try to find out information about other witnesses while involved in the program.
(#2) Parents Can Lose Custody of Children

The issue of children being relocated as part of the witness protection program is a controversial one. In instances where parents are divorced or not together, it can raise problems with access; if the child moves, or one parent is put into protection, then it would make staying in contact incredibly difficult.
The rules state that any parent who has joint custody or visitation rights must agree to a child being relocated - otherwise, they cannot enter the program. Contact is also limited to just 12 visits a year, supervised by marshals.
(#10) Participants Can't Contact Anyone From Their Past Lives

This rule might seem obvious, but its consequences are more far-reaching than you might imagine. One of the central tenets of the program is that witnesses cannot make any contact with people from their past lives.

The rule doesn’t just apply to the witness, but to anyone else who is enrolled in the program. That means children and spouses also have to abandon everybody they have ever known.